SOUTH OF THE BORDER SPENDING

WASHINGTON -- Consumers in Mexico are spending nearly 27% more each week on food than they did in 1996, although real buying power has fallen because of escalating inflation, according to a survey by Food Marketing Institute here and ANTAD, the Mexico-based food association.The survey indicated that the average Mexican shopper patronizing a supermarket in 1998 spent $50.47 a week (407 pesos at an

WASHINGTON -- Consumers in Mexico are spending nearly 27% more each week on food than they did in 1996, although real buying power has fallen because of escalating inflation, according to a survey by Food Marketing Institute here and ANTAD, the Mexico-based food association.

The survey indicated that the average Mexican shopper patronizing a supermarket in 1998 spent $50.47 a week (407 pesos at an exchange rate of $1 equals 8.064 pesos), compared with $40.30 spent weekly at corner sto